Pleating curtain construction



Oct. 29, 1946. I E. LEPOW PLEATING CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION I Filed July 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l EDWARD LE'POW ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 194 2 E. LEPOW 2,410,224 PLEATING CURTAIN CONSTRUCTI ON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1945 /26 w i-aoiell EDWARD LEPow' v I INVENTOR 11:91.15 D 2 v I ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 29, 1946 Edwardi Lepow, New York, 'N.

f Home Curtain Corporation,"Far Rockaway,

' f N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 23, 1945; Serial No. 606,625

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to curtains and draperies, and more particularly to construction for the production of plea-tsin the curtain of drapery as hung on a rod orsimilar support :therefor. f y a v Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of structure of the class describe'd which' is simple in character so that the same may operate in a ready and convenient manner! "In accordance with the present invention, it is required only that the rod, passage of the curtain be penetrated by the rod or similar curtain supporting member, in order-to form the "desired pleated effect when the curtain is hung. It' isnot necessary that the rod be woven in and outo'f a. series of openings in a serpentine manner asdisclosed in prior art constructions. This time consuming chore, requiring skill, is eliminated, by thepresent construction, v Another object herein lies in the provision of self-pleating means which does not require metal for rigidpar'ts, so "that the present means may be used iupon' very'li g'ht fabric curtains, as well as heavy draperies, and the laundering of the curtain, is not affected. s Another object herein lies. on the provision of curtains or draperies in which the location and general vcharacter of'the pleats is predetermined, and this predetermination is. substantially: foolproof. 7 Another objectlhe r'ein lies in the' provision of pleating structure which is of'lofw cost; both as to parts and assembly, sonthatfthe 'samehas a ',consequent wide distribution and use. a a I T' 'A'further object lies in'the'provision of novel tape'element which may be secured to the cur- I tain or drapery panel in asimplemannerand which is. provided with" indentations or openings Twhich predispose the curtain orv fdrap'ery to the "formation of theproperjpleats.

. ,.;'I hese objects lands other incidental ends and advantages willlmor' fully. appear in the progress of'fthisfdisclosure and be pointed'jout in the apperfi'ded claims.

'charact ers" designate corresponding l t roughout each embodiment Figure 1 sa front elevational view of a cur- Q, amer, drapery constituting a first embodiment of the invention. In this :figure, the panel is in its pleated state, as hungupon a known curtain rod. 1 I

parts Figure is aplanview on a reduced seals, of h Q m r a 13 3 1 to P QV '3' sll e ii 1. tees,z meetagw tha.ml igen 911%??? r.

.In the drawings in which similar reference Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a curtain panel constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, as mounted upon a rod, but not constricted so as to produce the pleats.

I Figure 4 is a sectional view as seen fromthe plane 4-4 on Figure 3. a Figure 5 is a sectional view corresponding generally to Figure 4, but showing the position of lo the parts when the panel is constricted along the rod to producepleats. I

Figure 6 is a view in perspective, as seen from the rear and above, showing the panel in a partially pleated condition on the rod. Figure leis an enlarged sectional view, fragmented, as seen from the plane 1- 1 on Figure 3. Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 8,--8 on Figure 3. v Figure 9 is a} rear elevational view of asecond embodiment of the invention.

, Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane lB-lfl on Figure 9.. v

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane |I',I l on Figure 9.

Figuret12 is a rear vperspective view, fragmentary in nature, showing the curtain panel of Fi ;ure 9 being threaded on the curtain rod and in the process of having the pleats formed therein. Figure 1 3 is. a fragmentary rear elevational view of a third embodiment of the invention. Figure, 14 is a fra mentary enlarged front ,elevational view of the tape element of Figure 13. 35., Turning now to the first embodiment of the -:invention illustrated in Figures 1 to Binclusive, -the curtain, or drapery panel is indicated by reference character ll, while, thelcompletedevice' ,is indicated generally by numeral l0. .The panel 40 .-;H maybe composed of anysuitable-curtain or draperyab i and may have, t p ge; l r ;bottom- ;edge l3, verticalside edges. i4 and i5. fflhe top edge l2 may be hemmed in a well-known mannerso that the freeedge of the material of which the panel I l is composed mayllie below the edge I 2. The free edge I6 is adapted to be engaged by the upper row of stitches H as will A, more fully appear a a a; l v;

'Ihetape element may be composed ofany ,50. suitable material preferably slightlystiflf, as for example a soft light buckrams ltis desirable athatf'the tape element 20 be not deleteriouslyflaf- ,feotd byany cleaning or pressing operations which the panel ll mayi withstandi i The tape "element 20 is preferably eoeiitensive in length with the width of the panel I I, that is to say, between the edges I4 and I5 thereof. The tape element 20 includes a plurality of supporting portions 2| and a plurality of pleating portions 22'. The supporting portions are wider than the pleating portions, so that the former have the projections 23 and 24 while the latterhave the indentations 25 and 26. The outer longitudinal edges, forming the indentations 25 and 26 need be inwardly displaced with relation to the other longitudinal edges of the projectings 23 and 24, a distance sufficient so that when the rectilinear rows of stitches I1 and I8 are put in place they will serve to anchor the projections 23 and 24 to the curtain panel II. 7

While I have shown the supporting portions 2| as being of lengths Substantially equal to the pleating portions 22', as seen for example in Figure 3, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, increasing the length of the pleating portions 22 will engage the pleats, and increasing the length of the supporting portions will increase the distance between the pleats.

In order that the vertical edges I4 and I5 of the panel II may be properly supported from the rod 39, it is desirable that the tape element 20 be so positioned on the panel II that a part of a supporting portion occur at the said'edges. The tape element as an article of manufacture may be extended for any desired length, the same being severed to correspond to the width of the panel with which it is associated.

The tape element 29 may be formed by taking a piece of tape of a width equal to the distance between the outer edges of the projections 23, and 24, and then cutting away sufficient material at opposite edges to form the indentations 25 and 25-, or conversely, the tape element may be formed by taking a piece of tape of a width equal to the distance between the outer edges of the indentations 25 and 26 and adding on the material to form the projections. One advantageous methodof forming the tape element 20 is to cut a web of fabric 29 with cuts 3| and 32, so thatthe projections on one tape element dove-tail into the corresponding indentations of the tape elements on either side thereof. This is shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, in which the cuts for producing the indentations in the outermost strips are indicated by the reference characters 33 and 34.

By properly correlating the distance between the outer edges of the projections 23 and 24 with the distance between the rows of stitches 25 and '26, the tape element 2!] may be installed upon the panel II asa single operation on a two needle sewing machine. I i! In an alternate form of construction, the inner 'or forward surfaces of the projections 23 and 24 may be provided with adhesive material, such as a thermoplastic adhesive, or thermosetting adhesive, by means of which the said projections and hence the supporting portions may be connected to'the curtain or drapery panel II. The pleating portions are free of connection, save through the supporting portions, with the curtain or drapery panel II. While the tape element 20 has been shown and" described as being fa separatestrip of fabric, the lower edge (the free edgeseen in Figure '6) maybe extended downwardly a distance equal to the width of the tape element and may be slit as shown in -Figure 9. The lower edge just referred to is the lower The use of the present invention is extremely simple. The rod may be inserted into either end of the rod passage 40 which is formed by the tape element and the portion 4| of the panel II lying forwardly thereof. Because when it is inserted in a straight line of motion, the rod end 42 engages only the rear surface of the portion II and the forward surface of the tape element 20, it has a relatively smooth path, and the insertion of the rod is quickly and easily accomplished. The rod need not be woven in and out of a series of spaced openings.

After the rod 30 is in place, the device may appear as seen in Figures 3 and 4. The portions of the panel forming and adjoining the rod passage may now be constricted (see Figure 6), and the supporting portions will tend to lie along the rod, while the tape pleating portions 22 will buckle rearwardly. The portions 50, of the panel I I, lying forwardly of the portions 22 being otherwise disconnected from the rod will buckle forwardly to form the panel pleats.

Turning now the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition, parts corresponding to those of the first em bodiment are given the same reference characters with the addition of a single prime suflix.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment principally in the fact that the indentations in the tape element of the first embodiment are omitted and longitudinally arranged slits are provided in the tape element 20. These slits ar indicated by reference characters I and I26. The portions of the tape element 20 outwardly of the said slits form the panel pleat reinforcing members I52 and I53 which buckle forwardly with the curtain panel in the pleating process.

In the second embodiment, the supporting portions 2 I are separated by groups of three pleating portions 22', and between the pleating portions 32 in any group there are two smaller or auxiliary supporting portions I2 I. This arrangement of the parts produces a triple pleated effect. By varying the size and arrangement of the pleating portions 22, the supporting portions 2|, and the supporting portions I2I, substantially all of the various conventional drapery and curtain pleating arrangements may be obtained.

As seen in Figure 9, additional tape elements I20 and 220 may be provided, the former being in the middle portion of the. panel II, and the latter adjacent the lower edge I3. When the curtain I0 is mounted on a pair of spaced and parallel rods and 230, the pleating effect is obtained at both ends of the curtain. This construction is desirable fordo'ors, and the like where it is customaryor desirable to anchor the curtain effect thus provided however, will have the pleats hereindescribed, in predetermined positions as contrasted with the haphazard gathering or shirring normally'obtained. v

Turning now to the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 13 and 14,, again for the purpose of avoiding needlessrepetition, parts corresponding to the first'embodiment are given the same reference characters with the addition of a double prime suflix.

In accordance with the construction of the third embodiment, the tape element 20" may be of uniform width so that standard tapes or fabric strips may be used as the base of the tape element. At spaced intervals along one edge of the tape element 20" areas of adhesive material 3|! are provided, and oppositely, at similarly spaced intervals along the other edge of the tape element, other areas of adhesive material 3| 8 are provided. The lengths of the areas 3|! and 3l8 determine the lengths (along the rod 30") which will be relatively fiat, while the spaces longitudi-' nally of the tape element, between the areas 3|! or 3| 8 determine the amount of the curtain panel which will form into a pleat when the curtain panel and tape element are constricted along the rod 38''. The distance between any opposed pair of adhesive areas 3!! and 3! determines the efiective width of the rod passage thereat, and should be sufiicient to allow ample clearance for the rod. The adhesive material may be of any suitable character, such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting adhesive, so that the tape element may be ironed on by the use of a heated pressing iron.

The operation of the third embodiment is quite similar to the first embodiment, the pleating portions 22" buckling away from the rod at the sam time that the portions 50" buckle away in the opposite direction.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim: I v

1. A tape element, elongated in shape, and having a series of aligned slits longitudinally disposed in said tape element and spaced from one longitudinal edge thereof; said tape element having a second series of aligned slits oppositely disposed and substantially parallel with said first mentioned series of slits.

2. Curtain or drapery construction comprising: a body panel; a tape element having a series of oppositely disposed projections along the longitudinal edges thereof; and means to secure said projections to said panel; said tape element having pleating portions disposed between the separate pairs of projections, said pleating portions being relatively free of connection with the said panel; said tape element and the opposed portions of the panel forming a passage for the reception of a rod; said panel and tape element being constri'ctable along said rod; said pleating portions of the tape element buckling away from the rod in one direction when the panel and tape element are constricted therealong.

3. Pleating construction of the class described, comprising: a body panel; an elongated tape element; means to intermittently secure one edge of said tape element to said panel; second means to secure the opposite edge of the tape element to the panel, the second means being oppositely arranged with respect to the first mentioned means, thereby forming a rod receiving channel, with portions of the tape element being free of connection with said panel.

4. Curtain construction comprising: a panel; a tape element secured to said panel along the longitudinal edges of the tape; said tape element having a pair of openings adjacent said tape element edges; whereby the portion of the tape element lying between said openings is substantially free of connection with the panel, and may buckle away from the panel when the panel and tape element are constricted laterally of the panel.

5. Curtain construction comprising: a panel; a tape element secured to said panel along the longitudinal edges of the tape element; said tape element having pairs of opposite openings, the

openings in each pair being adjacent the respective longitudinal edges of the tape element, the pairs of openings being spaced from each other along the tape element; said tape element and said panel being substantially free of interconnection in the areas between the openings in each pair of openings; whereby when the curtain is laterally constricted with a rod between the tape element and the panel, the tape element and the panel in said areas may buckle away from each other.

- EDWARD LEPOW. 

